NEWPORT (Shropshire): The Audco A roller-coaster towards a second successive Newport Pool League title shows no signs of derailing, after the Bellman’s Yard side crushed lowly Navigation B 6-0 last week.

Mick Beech eased past Damien Sayers to set the home side on their way, with Colin Pink and Paul Trevor beating Ashley Grant and Peter Dickinson to make it 3-0. John Williams made it 4-0 with victory over John Cubbons and Andy Lycett and Anthony Heathcote teamed up to make it five. Beech and Pink completed the rout in the second doubles’ rack.

Rivals Audco B slumped to a second defeat of the season at the ever-improving Navigation A, although they maintained second spot thanks to shock defeats for the King’s Head and the previously-unbeaten Lilleshall Sports Centre.

The Chetwynd End side crashed to a 4-2 defeat at Wrockwardine Wood Football Club, while LSC suffered the ignominy of a 5-1 defeat at Junction A.

With Greg Heathcote out through injury and Ben Longstaff and Neil Perkins still away on business, Nick Clewley pushed Keith Rogers all the way in frame one before losing to the home player. Neil ‘Hurricane’ Hazeley was unable to call on a much-needed tail-wind in his game against beaten Newport Pool Open semi-finalist Ian Mason and the Norbury side went 2-0 up.

In the battle of the captains, Hyla Marklew got the better of Dave ‘Bezza’ Price, before LSC debutant Gerald Wilkes ‘enjoyed’ his debut defeat. Hazeley and Wilkes also lost in the opening doubles’ match to set up the possibility of a first LSC rout in league history.

The Junction A saved Price’s blushes by going in-off and handing the sixth frame to the blushing LSC side, who now face an uphill struggle to catch the league leaders. “The pressure of being one of the top sides is costing us games,” quipped Hazeley, although, on this performance, that comment was more tongue in cheek!

The Wheatsheaf earned their second win of the season with a 4-2 success against Junction B and Alan Pritchett bounced back from an embarrassing defeat seven days before to lead the Navy Club to a 4-2 win over Shakespeare B.

All match forms are to be delivered to Ian Roberts and/or Dave Wilkinson at the Railway Tavern in Newport and match results sent immediately by text message to 07831 123153. Please note that the Audco (Barley) B will play from the Audco this season and not from the Barley, as previously intended.